An Act relative to airway clearance devices

HD 604 requires all Massachusetts public and private schools (including charter schools and vocational districts) to have at least one FDA-registered portable airway clearance device on-site at each school facility. The bill mandates training for school nurses and cafeteria staff in using these devices, which are defined as medical tools for clearing airway blockages during choking emergencies. Schools unable to comply must request a hardship waiver from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which will also provide information on funding sources for purchasing devices. The law protects school staff from liability when using the device in good faith during emergencies, excluding cases of gross negligence.